Borders in Madhes districts to be sealed during Bihar Assembly polls

By Our Correspondents,Sarlahi/ Mahottari, Nov. 8: The borders in Sarlahi, Mahottari, Rautahat and other districts in Madhes will remain shut for three days as the second phase election to the State Assembly in Bihar State of India is taking place on November 11.

It is said that the borders will be sealed for 72 hours to maintain security during the election in India. 

According to Chief District Officer of Sarlahi Ramu Raj Kadariya, the border in Sarlahi will be shut effective from 6 pm Saturday (Nov. 8) to 6 pm Tuesday (Nov. 11). 

The District Administration Office in Mahottari has announced a three-day ban on movement across the Nepal–India border to maintain peace and security during the second phase of the Bihar state assembly elections in India.

According to a notice issued on Friday, all cross-border movements, except for humanitarian and emergency services, will be suspended from 6 p.m. on November 8 to 6 p.m. on November 11. The restriction aims to ensure security and prevent any untoward incidents related to the Indian elections.

Assistant Chief District Officer of Mahottari Sanjay Kumar Pokharel stated that the decision was made in coordination with Indian authorities as part of security measures along the shared frontier. 

Out of Mahottari’s 15 local levels, five, Matihani Municipality, Jaleshwor Municipality, Manrasiswa Municipality, Samsi Rural Municipality, and Sonma Rural Municipality, share a 38.4-kilometre border with Bihar, India.

A month ago, officials from both countries held a joint meeting to discuss security arrangements for the Bihar elections. The meeting concluded with an agreement to enhance bilateral cooperation, strengthen information exchange, coordinate border patrols, and monitor criminal activities. Both Nepali and Indian security agencies have since stepped up joint patrols in the border region.

The first phase of Bihar’s state assembly elections concluded on Wednesday, with the second phase scheduled for Tuesday, November 11. 

The elections have become a triangular contest between the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), the Grand Alliance, and the Jana Suraj Party.

According to Indian journalist Bijay Kumar Mishra of Sursand, the Grand Alliance comprises the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Rastriya Janata Dal (RJD), Indian National Congress, and the Communist Party of India (CPI), among others. 

The NDA includes the Janata Dal (United), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Jitan Ram Manjhi’s Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular), and Chirag Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas).

Election officials have said that the results of both the first and second phases of voting will be announced on Friday, November 14.